Wild Horses: Carol Walker’s New Book Mustangs Released Today in France
October 22, 2014
Wild Horses – Photographing the Wyoming Checkerboard Horses at Canon City
November 13, 2014Wild Horses: No Photos of Wyoming Checkerboard Horses Allowed at November 7 Adoption
The BLM says NO photos allowed of Wyoming Checkerboard horses at Canon City wild horse adoption on November 7
As many of you know, I have spent the past 10 years photographing the wild horses in Adobe Town, Salt Wells Creek and Great Divide Basin, and I also spent many days the last month during the Wyoming Checkerboard Roundup, witnessing and photographing from very far away as 1263 wild horses lost their freedom and their families from these three herd areas.
Very far away from the action despite using a very long lens
The public was prevented from any close views of the traps or the horses during the roundups, usually being kept from 2 – 3 miles from the trap, and even when were allowed to go to the temporary holding at the end of the day, we were kept well back and could barely see the horses through the plastic mesh. On one day, some of the mesh was down and I actually got a decent view of the mares. On posting these photos I immediately had someone interested in adopting two of the mares in the photographs.
Temporary Holding
A temporary gap in the fence permits a brief glimpse of the mares
On returning home from the last day of the roundup, I immediately emailed the BLM at the Canon City, Colorado facility to request to attend the first adoption where the public would be allowed to see the horses removed during the Checkerboard Roundup. I was very happy to hear that at least half of the horses removed had been sent to Canon City as I believe it is the best short term holding facility that the BLM has. The employees are knowledgeable and care very much about the horses, and they take very good care of the horses. They are also very good to work with regarding adoptions, and I found that out for myself when I adopted my mustang Mica.
Mica with the other weanlings at Canon City after 2010 Roundup
I also requested to be allowed to photograph the horses so that I might be able to post photographs of the horses that are there and to help get as many of them adopted as possible, as I have many people waiting on those photographs from me. I said that I was willing to give the BLM copies of all my photos to help them get these horses adopted. I even mentioned that I was prepared to pay the commercial fee to be allowed to photograph there, since Canon City has special rules regarding photographing since it is at a prison. I had been allowed to photograph in 2010 when I adopted my mustang Mica after the 2010 Adobe Town and Salt Wells Creek roundups.
Since I am a professional photographer of horses, I am able to get high quality images that will put the horses in their best light. I have a very large social media following and the images would go out widely. Photos get people involved, get people interested, motivate them to take action. If the BLM were really interested in getting these horses placed, I believe they would allow photographs of the horses to be taken.
Instead this is the email response that I received:
“In regards to your camera request for November 7, 2014, I have had numerous requests to bring in cameras to photograph the horses. Per Department of Corrections Administrative Regulations, no cameras are allowed on grounds for security reasons. We do make exceptions, but with so many requests for this adoption, it is not fair to the others to see some people with cameras when they were denied.
I think it is in the best interest for the BLM and CCi that we do not allow any cameras on 11/07/2014.”
Notice that nothing is said about the best interests of the horses.
And doesn’t it make sense that if so many people want to photograph these horses, that no one be allowed to photograph them.
I truly believe that if the BLM could find a way they would prevent me from photographing the horses in the wild as well.
Oh wait, if they remove all of them, then that is exactly what they will be doing.
UPDATE JUST IN – I have just heard from the BLM that I WILL be allowed to photograph the Wyoming Checkerboard horses and post the images – it will not happen on the 7th but they are working to get a time and permission right now, so please don’t call and email them any more – I promise to keep everyone posted about this, and when I will get the photos up.
Thanks!!!
- A wild family near Eversole Ranch days before being removed
17 Comments
please continue your quest…we are all with you….
Thanks to Carol a lot of horse will be adopted. I hope that PZP program will help control the horse population. I don’t blame the BLM they are given orders they have to follow. Please check out the the people who up for election in your state find out where the stand on grazing cattle on our public lands and wild animal proctection. Vote the ones who are not for the protecting all wild life out…
So sad over 40% of the Worlds Wild life have perished in the last 20 years ……
Hello I’m glad you are one of the folks that care about our wild horses but do you really believe the BLM is only doing what their told and really care about these horses?? If they cared they wouldn’t be rounding them up in such a cowardly way as with helicopters that many do die from being run into the ground and cramming them into over crowded corrals where many are trampled or die from the stress. On one of their recent roundups every single one of the horses died from the stress of these brutal roundups. The BLM’s job is suppose to be in protecting our wild life not in terrorizing them to the point of causing their death or selling them to owners of kill yards. The BLM’s idea of controlling their population is getting rid of them all and there is several states now that they have done just that. It’s not our wild horses that are over populated or that are destroying the grazing lands like the BLM claims they are, but the way over populated cattle and sheep owned by the wealthy greedy ranchers that don’t want to share the free public lands with the wild horses even though it is the wildlife that the land is for to begin with. The BLM has been bought off by these rich cattle ranchers and do whatever the ranchers want them too while the taxpayers get to pay for it. You say you don’t blame the BLM their only doing what their told…if you were told to treat innocent animals in this brutal manner you mean you would do it?? There not doing it for the love of animals but for the almighty dollar sign. Maybe this is your idea of the way to protect our wildlife but it sure isn’t mine or thousands of other folks thank god.
What you do is a great service, Thank you .
Mitakuye Oyasin In the Spirit of Crazy Horse.
I am interested in a Marc in the picture where the covering was down….how do I get more info on her?
Dear Sasha,
Roughly half the horses went to Rock Springs, Wyoming, the other half to Canon City, Colorado. Here is the contact info for each facility:
in Rock Springs the contact person is Kathi Fine: http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/news_room/2014/september/25rsfo-hfacility.html
in Canon City Lona Kossnar:
https://www.blm.gov/adoptahorse/onsitegallery.php?horseCategory=99
I am so grateful to you. This is my first year in 70 without a horse (turned 80 in August) but these of OURS still own me. When I saw that group thru the fence, oh hell, Carol, I don’t have the words.That magnificent chestnut!Keep going all you can.
Keep up the good work. Wish I could afford to buy a horse.
Carol, thank you so much for all you do for these horses & burros. Its been 12 years (Dec 5th) since I had my boy put down – miss him every day. I sure do wish I could adopt one of these horses – but finances dictate these days. Please keep up the good work – cannot imagine how hard it is to take the pictures & be unable to save them all. Giving the rest of us a glimpse is a wonderful gift.
WOW! And what beautiful horses they are! And what a great job you are doing! Wish i could adopt a couple at least. If i were well off and had land i would get as many as i could and let them just be free!
God bless you Carol…a warrior spirit for these precious beasts. Can’t thank you enough!
I too am a wildlife photographer and have pointed my cammera and looked into the eyes of many of our wild brothers and sisters. Those eyes connect in a way that is hard to describe. What you are doing for the horses is beyond words. My heart breaks every time I see a photo of those helicopters. I am afraid I will witness this soon in Sandwash.. We need to reach the masses of people. They don’t know what is going on with roundups. why can’t we take pictures. Maybe some professional video photographers could help. There cameras reach further than ours.. Keep up the good work. I applaud you.
And why no cameras (or very limited ability to photo)…one can only guess to hide the abuse and torture the BLM put the horses thru during the roundup. This is so very sad. No photos, no proof, no debate. This is NOT right. The American people need to wake up, stand up to the Government and stop this madness!
Carol, thank you for the love, compassion and energy to continue your work for the wild horses. PLEASE, continue all the activies you do. You have a huge support group and more coming! If you need an assistant in the future, I would love to help.
We need everyone to realize that we must keep pushing to stop the roundups. Awareness in America has to grow – people do not realize what is at stake, and you have made a deep impression on so many. Each photo of yours is worth so many powerful thoughts and emotions of caring for our wild herds.
So what is the BLM up to that they don’t want pictures taken. Seems a lot suspicious to me. After all the yrs they have allows photographers in. They are up to no good .I guarantee. So secretive. Not a good sigh.
Thank you for helping with finding homes for these horses. I for the first time last year saw the wild horses near Toppenish WA. Spoke to an Indian woman who seemed to be in charge in Toppenish about them and about the ones that looked in very bad shape. She felt that they had no more use for horses and wanted them gone. Was quite upset that non Indians were trying to involve themselves and the horses were not all rounded up and sent to slaughter houses. I was unable to really say much for a few seconds there and tried to keep myself in check. I did mention that horses were part of their culture and she informed me that it was 2014 now. Noticed that she was totally dressed in Indian garb and feathers here and there. Not to mention that she broke into another language that I believe was Of her tribe. Brought that to her attention and the fact that the building I was in was a Tee Pee with what looked like buffalo skins around. Still upset over one day they are killing one and all for their horses and the next the horses are totally unwanted. Must be confusing for even the horses!
Carol, my heart goes out to you and the horses you are photographing. I wish I could start my own sanctuary here in Maine. I own several of those beautiful creatures. I was wondering how I could get my hands on copies of your photos to use as references for some paintings I would like to do this winter. Any thoughts on that? I certainly would not be comfortable using any off of the website here.
Thank you so much for helping those horses. I was hoping I could sell some paintings to contribute to the cause.